Emiliano Sala died of head, torso injuries in crash, says coroner

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A body is taken off the Geo Ocean III, recovered from the wreckage of a plane carrying Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala at Weymouth harbour, south west England on February 7, 2019. Investigators recovered a body in the Channel and transported it to Britain today for identification. Officials later confirmed the body was that of Sala, an Argentine striker who had recently moved to Premier League club Cardiff City from French Ligue 1 side Nantes. | Glyn KIRK / AFP

A post-mortem has concluded that Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala died from injuries to his head and torso when his plane crashed into the English Channel.

Sala, 28, died of "head and trunk injuries," an inquest in the English city of Dorset heard Monday, as a coroner hearing began to examine his death in a plane crash in the sea, three weeks to the day after the tragedy.

The single-engine aircraft was flying from the French city of Nantes to Cardiff where Sala was due to start a new career playing for the Welsh capital's Premier League club.

Home Office pathologist Dr Basil Purdue has given the cause of Sala's death as "head and trunk injuries." He was formally identified by fingerprints.

The wreckage was located on the seabed. The striker's body was recovered but pilot David Ibbotson is still missing. The plane remains under the sea.

Acting senior Dorset coroner Brendan Allen said during Monday's hearing the Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigation could take up to 12 months. A pre-inquest review hearing was set for November 6.

In English law, inquests are held to examine sudden or unexplained deaths.